Messages Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.